DISH Network Set to Drop Concho Valley TV Station

SAN ANGELO, TX – Industry sources say DISH Network is expected to drop over 100 local TV stations including a popular station in the Concho Valley. 

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. announced Monday that it is unlikely that a carriage agreement with DISH Network will be reached before the August 16, 2021 expiration of their current agreement for DISH’s carriage of Sinclair’s broadcast stations and Tennis Channel. As a result, all Sinclair broadcast TV stations and Tennis Channel would no longer be carried by DISH Network. In total, 112 broadcast TV stations are expected to be dropped, including 102 ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliates.

KTXS TV out of Abilene that also broadcasts in San Angelo is one of the TV stations expected to be dropped by DISH Network.

“We have tried unsuccessfully to reach fair and customary terms with DISH Network for the renegotiation of our retransmission consent,” stated David Gibber, Sinclair’s General Counsel. “Given the status of these negotiations, we feel it is important to alert DISH Network subscribers to the real risk that some of their favorite stations will no longer be available through DISH Network including their access to live, local news, popular syndicated programming, sports programming including college and NFL football, and the network programming of our ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and CW affiliates in those markets. DISH subscribers are also at risk of losing Tennis Channel. With this loss, tennis fans will not be able to see wall-to-wall coverage of the Western & Southern Open from Cincinnati, OH in the run-up to the last Grand Slam of the year, the US Open.”

On-demand access and online access to the programming for DISH Network subscribers would also be lost at such time.

“We apologize to our viewers for the inconvenience this may cause although our programming will continue to be available either through other program providers or via over-the-air antenna reception,” Gibber continued. “We encourage subscribers in these markets to contact DISH Network and let them know that it is important to them that DISH Network carry these stations and that they should switch to another TV provider if they care about their news, local and national sports, and top tier entertainment programming.”

DISH Network subscribers wishing to discontinue their service can do so by calling DISH Network at 866-974-0781. DIRECTV can be reached at 1-888-777-2454.